Fastener for the covers of trunks and similar devices



A. L.. SESSIONS FASTENER. FOR THE COVERS OF TRUNKS AND SIMILAR DEVICES Filed Aug. 26. 192i nvvs/vraw;

A T TDR'NE Y.

. Figure 8 is a view in Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES ALBERT L. SESSIONS, 0F BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

FASTENER FOR THE COVERS OF TRUNKS AND SIMILAR DEVICES.

Application filed August 26, 1921. Serial No. 495,516.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. Snssrons, a citizen of the United States, residing in Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented new and Improved Fasteners for the Covers of Trunks and Similar Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of devices that are employed for securing the free edges of the covers of trunks or similar devices to the upper edges of the bodies, this in addition to the regular lock, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a device of this class that shall be particularly simple in construction, and at the same time strong and durable.

One form of device embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a face view of one form of my improved fastener with parts broken away to show construction.

Figure 2 is a view in central lengthwise section through the same.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the same, partially broken away.

Figure 4 is a view in cross section on plane denoted by dotted line 4-4: of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view of a portion of my improved trunk fastener showing a little different form of catch for the loop.

Figure 6 is a view in section through the same on plane denoted by dotted line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a face view of a fastener of a I little different construction from that shown in Figure 1.

side elevation of the latter form of structure.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 5 denotes a cover plate that is generally secured to the cover of a trunk or similar device at its lower edge, and 6 denotes a body plate that is secured near the upper edge of the trunk body in line with the cover plate, these plates being usually constructed of any desiredv metal and of any suitable shape, these not being material to my invention. A catch lug 7 is formed on the face of the cover plate 5, as by stamping up the metal of the plate from the back, said plate consequently being depressed at this point and the lug being hollow by reason of the recess 8 at its back.

A latch lug 9 is similarly formed on the body plate 6 with a recess 10 at its back. hinge loop 11 is formed as an integral projection from the latch lug 9, this hinge loo-p receiving a form similar to that of the lugs 7 and 9, that is, of the hollow type with a recess at its back. The knuckle 12 is formed from a proection extending from the end of the latch and that is bent into knuckle form, and as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. A thumb piece 1A is formed from a projection at that end of the latch opposite the knuckle, both the knuckle and thumb piece being preferably extended from the raised portion of the latch and the thumb piece extendin ilowlpwardly to close the lower edge of sai atc That end of the latch lug opposite the.

hinge loop has an opening to, receive a prong 15 integrally formed with and extending from the catch supporting lug 7, and as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, this prong being for the purpose of securing the trunk body and cover against relative movements in a horizontal plane and in a manner common to trunk structures.

A loop 16 is pivotally attached to the lug 7, in the structure shown herein this loop being formed of wire bent into the shape of a loop and with the ends close together, and as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings. The opposite end of the loop is adapted to engage a catch recess 17 formed in the lower end of the latch 13, the thumb piece 14 being bent to partially form this recess, and the sides of the latch also bein notched to form a part of the recess,

b v I and as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

It is of importance in devices of this class that the latch and the loop shall be tightly held when the latch is in its cllosed or fastened positions, various devices having been heretofore employed for accomplishing this purpose. My invention comprises novel means for doing this and which means may be varied to a considerable extent, in that form of the device shown in Figures 1 to A inclusive holders 18 being struck up from the cover plate 5 at such distance from the lug 7 as to enable the sides of the loop 16 to be forced into the openings between the holders and the lug, the holders being sufiiknuckle 12 of a latch 13 of a v ciently resilient to permit this. The ends of these holders are overturned and bent backwardly and slightly inwardly, as shown in Figure 4, to provide a holder recess 19 within which the loop is securely held. The spring features of the loop, the ends 20 thereof being separated a slight distance to permit resiliency, together with the spring features of the holders, enables the loop to be readily sprung into place and be securely held, and its engagement in the recess in the end of the latch operates to hold the latch securely in its closed position and without any looseness of the parts.

In that form of the holder shown in Figures 5 and 6 a holder lug 21 is forced outwardly from the supporting lug '4' and as shown in said figures, the resiliency of the loop 16 being mainly depended upon in this form of the device to hold the parts securely in place.

In that embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 the catch lug 22 and the latch lug'23 and the latch 24 are formed similarly to the corresponding parts illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the

main features of difference being that in this latter form of device, the loop 25 is pivotally supported in the latch and its free 'end'is adapted to engage a latch recess 26 in the lug 22. The latch lug is also formed with cars, 27 projecting from the side parts of the lug to receive a pintle 28 that passes through a knuckle 29 formed on the latch 24: and in a manner similar to the form of the knuckle 12 on the latch 13.

The loop 25 in this structure is held against any looseness as by means of bends 30 on the side parts of the loop entering depressed recesses 31 in the side parts'of the latch lug 23, the resiliency of the loop permitted by its slightly separated ends enabling the loop to readily engage the recesses as in prior structures.

It will readily be conceived that other means similar to those herein shown and described for tightly holding the loop may be employed Without the exercise of more than mechanical skill and such forms are con templated by me so long as they embody the resiliency of the loop or of the holder, either or both.

In order to more securely retain the parts against looseness stud projections 32 may be formed on the sides of the latch lug 13 to enter openings in the body plate 6, said openings being of a size substantially that of the studs, and the latter holding the latch against movement transversely of the depth of the plate.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, to gether with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may he carried out by other means.

I claim l. A trunk fastener comprising two plates, a holder upon one of said plates, a com pression loop pivot-ally supported by one of said plates and mounted to open on being forced past said holder and being closed after it has been moved past the holder, and means upon the other plate to receive said loop to secure the parts bearing said plates together.

2. A trunk fastener comprising two plates, a loop pivotally supported by one ofsaid plates, a latch pivotally mounted on one of said plates to cooperate with said loop to draw the parts bearing said plates together, and a holder positioned to engage said loop when it is forced past said holder by the action of said latch.

3. A trunk fastener comprising two plates, a loop pivotally mounted on one of said plates, a latch pivotally'mounted on one of said plates to engage said loop, and a holder into engagement with which said loop is forced in its closing movement to secure it against looseness.

4. A trunk fastener comprising two plates, a loop member pivotallymounted'on one of said plates, a latch member pivotally mounted on the other of said plates to engage said loop, and a holder into engagement with which said loop is forced in its closed movement, the resiliency of said members, securing the loop against movement.

5. A trunk fastener comprising two plates, a loop pivotally mounted onone of said plates, a latch pivotally mounted on one of saidplates to engage said loop, and a resilientlv mounted holder to engage said loop and hold it against movement.

6. A trunk fastener comprising two plates, a loop pivotally mounted on one of said. plates, means upon the other plate to receive said loop to secure the parts bearing said plates together, and a holder upon one of said plates to place said loop under tension in its closed position and thereby secure it against looseness.

7. A trunk fastener comprising a plate, a lug stamped up from the substance of the plate forming a depression in the surface thereof, a latch comprising a member similarly formed as to said lugand having an integral. knuckle, means for pivotally securing the knuckle to said lug, a loopto be engaged by said latclnand means for pivotally supporting said loop.

8.' A trunk fastener comprising a plate, a lug stamped up from the substance of the plate forming a depression in one face thereof, a pintle integrally formed on said lug, a latch comprising a lug formed similar to the first mentioned lug, a knuckle integrally formed with said latch to engage said pintle, a loop, and means for pivotally supporting said loop for engagement with said latch.

9. A trunk fastener comprising a plate, 1 compression loop pivotally supported thereon, a second plate, a latch pivotally supported on one of said plates to be engage-d by said loop, and a lug on said loop to engage a depression in the plate supporting the latch to prevent it from movement in a direction at right angles to the plane of the plate.

10. A trunk fastener comprising plate, a compression loop pivotally supported thereon and a latch, one of said parts having a depression and said latch being pivotally supported on one of said plates to be engaged by said loop, and a lug on said loop to engage said depression to prevent movement of the latch in a direction at right angles to the plane of the plate.

11. A trunk fastener comprising a plurality of plates, a holder supported by one of said plates, a compression loop pivotally supported by one of said plates and arranged to open on being forced past said holder and to be closed when resting in its closed position, means on one of said plates for engagement of said loop, and a lever to cooperate with said loop for drawing the two plates together.

12. A trunk fastener comprising a plate, a lug supported thereon, a second plate, a lug pivotally mounted on the second plate, a loop pivotally attached to said latch and arranged to engage said ing. and means located above said latch to be engaged by said loop to place the latter under tension in its swinging movement caused by the operation of the latch.

ALBERT L. SESSIONS. 

